What jewelry materials are acceptable to put in your body?

STAINLESS STEEL

There are many manufacturers of body piercing jewelry; unfortunately, many of them are of questionable materials and manufacture. What should you look for in a quality piece of surgical stainless steel jewelry? Surgical stainless steel is a combination of metals (called an alloy), 316 is the number that represents a loose description of "surgical stainless steel." MANY different grades of stainless steel fall under the designation of 316. This guideline includes rather low-grade metals used for tools and so forth; it is less than desirable for permanent placement in the human body.

The American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) assigns a number as a method for the manufacturer of a material to create products with a specific purpose. ASTM F - 138 is a specific designation for permanent implant grade surgical stainless steel created with the purpose of leaving it inside the human body. This is the metal from which hip replacement joints and metal pins used in surgery are made. The suffix 'L' after the number of the alloy designates low carbon. This is an important distinction for metals that may be used for hypoallergenic requirements. The suffix 'VM' specifies the manner in which the metal is created. VM stands for Vacuum Melt which is the process by which the highest level of purity is to be gained in the manufacture of the metal. Non-vacuum melt metals are far more prone to impurities from the surrounding environment. So, for Implant Grade Stainless Steel you would look for the following designation: 316LVM.

Another very important factor to consider is how the jewelry is threaded. Are the threads on the ball or shaft? If the threads are on the shaft this is external threading, if the threads are on the ball this is internal threading. At Accent we use only internally threaded jewelry. Why is internally threaded jewelry important? Here are a few reasons:

Internally threaded jewelry passes smooth metal through the piercing as opposed to narrow metal bands, literally reducing wear and tear on your piercing. External jewelry is much more painful inserted into a new piercing.

External jewelry only has 4 or 5 turns of thread, so they tend to unscrew and fall off. Internally threaded jewelry uses double the threads thus lessening the chances of losing the ball, and finer jewelry, (such as Accent uses) tends to "lock" when tightened.

NIOBIUM AND TITANTUM

Niobium and titanium are pure metals and not alloys. Thus, these elements are present on the periodic table (Nb. and Ti.). They have low reactivity and an attractive appearance. Titanium has the added feature of being lightweight and stronger than steel. However, there are a couple of properties that are important to consider:

Polishing: The critical element in the consideration of Niobium and Titanium as body jewelry is the quality of the polish on the metal surface. Both metals tend to have rough, porous surfaces that frequently cause irritation of new or even healed piercings. It is important to obtain all body jewelry with a mirror-like finish - but ESPECIALLY in the case of these metals. Titanium is especially noted for its brutally sharp and porous surface. Improper polishing of these metals results in a microscopic sandpaper-like finish. Be cautious of "cheap" jewelry, very often the cost-cut has been on the polishing and you are the one likely to pay the price. The high polish is also desirable in the effect it has on the coloring - better polish usually results in better colors.

Coloring: The metals are able to be colored by being placed into a solution and then electrified. This process causes a thin layer to form on the surface of the metal that has specific light-refracting properties. We see the rings as colored because this layer slows one (or more) light color as it hits the surface of the ring. Because the surface coating that refracts the light is only microns thick, it does wear off in body areas that are subjected to friction.

GOLD and PLATINUM

Very often we hear the expression "Well, I can only wear gold" Frequently, people have reactions to low-grade metals and find that gold is the solution. It is important for us to understand gold a little better.

First off, gold is an alloy - much like stainless steel, In fact, typical jewelry gold in the U.S. is 14 karat gold. This alloy is only 58% gold! What then, makes up the other 42% of metal present in 14 karat gold? Usually a combination of silver and copper (in yellow gold) or zinc and nickel (in white gold). All of these metals have reactive properties in many people. Therefore, it is not true that gold is more hypoallergenic than high quality surgical steel - on the contrary, surgical steel is less likely to cause reactions in people. On the other hand 18 karat gold is 75% pure gold and only 25% other metals. We carry 14 and 18 karat gold with no nickel and low or no zinc (the most likely problem metals in gold), Our white gold does not use silver but replaces the silver with a better, less-reactive metal, palladium.

Once again, all metals are not the same. Platinum (either pure or alloyed) is perhaps the least reactive metal. In cases where someone is completely unable to wear "normal" metals, they frequently can wear platinum. At the current time platinum jewelry is usually only available as a special order item, and does cost a little more than 18 karat gold.

ACRYLICS

Almost all plastic body jewelry is made from Acrylic (brand names such as Lucite included). Some plastics are known to "off-gas" for many years - potentially seeping toxins into your body. Our Acrylics are approved by the ADA (American Dental Association) lessening this hazard, so they are relatively neutral for most people. We usually recommend that if someone is to wear plastic, that it not be daily-wear jewelry. Always watch for reactions to plastic. Acrylic or nylon should NEVER be placed into a fresh piercing. Always watch for reactions to plastic jewelry (redness or sore external piercings; a swelling and/or sudden break out of mouth sores in an oral piercing.)

GLASS

The industry standard for most glass jewelry is Pyrex (Borosilicate or hard glass). This material is also used to make beakers, test tubes and tobacco pipes. Pyrex glass is able to withstand a large degree of thermal shock (quickly changing from hot/cold or cold/hot), is quite strong, light weight, hypoallergenic and autoclavable making it excellent for piercing jewelry. Glass jewelry is unique and very comfortable to wear; the finish is very smooth which makes for easier insertion and removal. Pyrex glass jewelry does not get as cold as surgical steel which is great for people who live in cold climates. Additionally, Pyrex glass jewelry is great for large gauge piercing and stretching. There are numerous color options, styles, shapes, and designs that can be made which you cannot get in steel, niobium, titanium or organics. Pyrex glass jewelry is a great alternative for those who wear Acrylic or Lucite jewelry which is made from petroleum products that can be absorbed into the skin and for those who don't want to wear animal products (vegan).

All glass jewelry is not made with Pyrex. Some manufacturers use Soft Glass, such as Soda-Lime Glass or Barium Crystal Glass which contains the element Barium, Barium is very similar to Lead, a reactive element that is undesirable in body jewelry. Pyrex contains no Barium, Lead or Nickel. Soft glass is used for art vases, plates, and paperweights. Pyrex is stronger than Barium Crystal or Soda-Lime glass. Most pieces of Pyrex Glass jewelry (like plugs) will usually bounce when dropped, Barium Crystal or Soda-Lime glass will shatter. Soft Glass does not withstand high temperatures and has very low resistance to thermal shock, which means it cannot be autoclaved safely. Be careful about your choice of glass jewelry, your health and safety are more important than your jewelry. At Accent glass jewelry is mostly Pyrex (Borosilicate).

We also have Fused Quartz glass available. It is not the same (but very similar molecularly) as the natural quartz plugs you may find in shops. Fused Quartz is completely clear with no inclusions, and has many of the same desirable characteristics as Pyrex, except it is stronger and only available clear. Fused Quartz is great for retainers such as Septum pieces, Labret plugs, Navel jewelry, Nostril Retainers, Eyebrow retainers, and Tongue retainers. Retainers are great for surgery, MRI's, intolerant work places and Airports.

Note: when wearing glass jewelry in other piercings be aware that it can still break if forced to.

WOOD, BONE, QUILL, TUSK, AMBER and HORN

These organic materials have been used for thousands of years by humans all across the globe. Many materials and designs were originally conceived as ritual or ceremonial wear, therefore, some materials and designs are not suited for continuous wear. The nature of some of these materials and the handmade processes leads to slight variation in any given pair. Jewelry may vary slightly and no two pairs will be exactly the same.

With body jewelry of this type there are some things to keep in mind.

Porosity: If the piece does not have a smooth and shiny surface, it is likely to irritate even a well healed piercing.

Reactivity: There is never any guarantee that organic materials are neutral for humans. Always pay attention when changing to a new piece - watch for reactions that could result from oils and/or waxes used to treat or seal the piece. Allergic reactions can occur rather swiftly, and are indicated by redness, inflammation, and swelling. Only use these materials in well healed piercings.

Cleaning: All organic materials require some maintenance and care. Typically a soft bristle brush, essential oil (Jojoba or Coconut oils work great) clean cotton cloth, and a little time once a month will ensure the longevity or your organic jewelry. Do not soak organics' in water, always rinse and dry immediately; do not store organics' in extreme temperatures or the bathroom and be sure to remove them before bathing or swimming.

Again, under no circumstances should you place organics in fresh or unhealed piercings!

We realize this is a lot of information to take in, but at Accent Tattoo and Piercing Inc. we believe that our client's long term health and well being are of paramount consideration. Should you have materials in your body that are not made for that purpose and could present short and long term health problems or damage? What is the price of your long term health and well being? For these reasons we will only use the highest quality jewelry available.

Thank-you